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Cold, wind postpone Twins-White Sox opener

CHICAGO -- The scheduled series opener between the White Sox and Twins at U.S. Cellular Field on Friday night was postponed due to a forecast of cold and windy conditions.

Friday's in-game forecast called for a high of 38 degrees in Chicago, with winds approaching 20 mph and a wind chill dipping to 28 degrees. With the cancellation coming with the comfort of the players and the fans in mind, and not about any sort of precipitation, the decision was made around lunch time to avoid people having to make any unnecessary trips.

A makeup date and time will be announced at a later time, although that makeup will not take place this weekend. Saturday's game time is scheduled for 2:05 p.m. CT, with a forecast of 47 degrees and partly sunny. Sunday's first pitch is slated for 1:10 p.m., with a forecast for the 60s and sunny.

Fans should keep any game tickets and parking coupons for Friday's postponed game until a makeup date is determined. Both teams have an off-day on Thursday, Aug. 8, before the Twins' three-game series that weekend in Chicago. If that was the makeup date selected, the Twins would play from July 30 to August 26 without an off-day, meaning it would be more likely that the two teams would play a weekend doubleheader and maintain Thursday's off-day.

This postponement is the sixth in the history of U.S. Cellular Field due to cold temperatures. The most recent postponement due to cold was on April 10, 2008, vs. the Twins.

Right-hander Jake Peavy gets the start Saturday afternoon, coming off of his 11-strikeout, five-hit effort in last Sunday's victory over the Indians. That win was one of three for the White Sox over the course of a three-city, 10-game road trip during which the team lost starting second baseman Gordon Beckham for six weeks and left fielder Dayan Viciedo for a yet to be determined amount of time due to injury.

Viciedo left Thursday's loss to the Blue Jays in the eighth inning after straining his left oblique on a swing. He received treatment Friday and is listed as day to day.

All of the other White Sox starters move back one day in the rotation, with Gavin Floyd starting Sunday's series finale and Dylan Axelrod opening the Cleveland series Monday night at home.

Pitching coach Don Cooper, who has been away from the team since April 9 due to a battle with diverticulitis, returns to the White Sox bench on Saturday.

"I'm the only guy disappointed we are not playing," said Cooper, who was at U.S. Cellular on Friday afternoon. "I feel a lot better than I was. I'm good to go."

Vance Worley, who was scheduled to pitch Friday night for the Twins against Peavy, will start Saturday. Scott Diamond will pitch Sunday's series finale.

Scott Merkin is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Merk's Works, and follow him on Twitter @scottmerkin. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.